Cities and Memory - remixing the world Cities and Memory

"Binaural recording at 3pm in Piazza San Marco, Venice - music from the famous cafes, bells chiming the hour, and hundreds, or more probably thousands of tourists."

Recorded by Cities and Memory. 

"In creating this soundtrack, I ventured into new territory by using the ambient noise of life itself rather than the melodic/percussive elements I'm typically drawn to. 
The sounds of random conversations, church bells ringing, bustling restaurants, and children screaming form the foundation of this piece. 

"As I listened to these layers of sound, two words echoed in my mind: chaos and loneliness. The chaos is evident, an overwhelming cacophony of urban life. 
But beneath that, there's a deeper sense of loneliness. This isn't immediately obvious, but it became clear as I delved into the sounds. 

"I envisioned a middle-aged indigenous man visiting the town where he grew up. What was once a tranquil village surrounded by nature has transformed into a bustling, noisy city. This man, overwhelmed by the constant noise, searches for pockets of quiet, only to find himself once again engulfed by the city's sounds — crowds, street musicians, relentless urban life. Amidst the throngs of people, he feels profoundly alone, a stranger in the place he once called home. He realizes that his heart still clings to the memory of the serene village, a place filled with calm and loving people. 

"In his moments of being overwhelmed, he finds solace in a simple act: playing a native flute. The repetitive phrases he plays transport him back to his childhood. He envisions a flowing river, hears the sweet melodies of singing birds, smells the fresh bread his mother baked, and listens to his father's voice as he chats with a neighbor. 
Each note from his flute takes him back to a place of loving order, where nature's rhythms reigned supreme over the chaos of modern life. 

"I chose to title this soundtrack "Samsara," a word that means "cycle of life". 
This title perfectly encapsulates the journey within the music — a cycle of chaos and solitude, returning to memories of peace and belonging. It reflects the man's experience of moving through the noisy chaos of the present back to the quiet harmony of his past, illustrating the cyclical nature of life and memory. This soundtrack captures that journey — a poignant blend of chaotic noise and the haunting beauty of memory. It's a story of finding peace and belonging amidst the relentless din of the present, a reminder that within the chaos, there lies a path back to the tranquility of our roots."

Piazza San Marco, Venice reimagined by micca.

 "Listening to the traces of a Saturday night in a Roman piazza made me think about the ways that recorded sound can transport us powerfully into the past and make us feel we have been physically present in a place we have never visited. 

"I was drawn to specific sounds - voices and glassy clinks - that had a tuneful quality and played with echoing or responding to them on my cello. 

"My narration seeks to draw the listener's attention to their own act of listening, to certain intriguing motifs and moments, as well as to the idea that we are inhabiting both present and past. 

"The original field recording, only very lightly edited, provides a sound bed for the entire piece."

Piazza San Calisto, Rome reimagined by Alice Garner.

A classic Saturday night in the hectic Piazza San Calisto in Trastevere, Rome, with breaking glass, bottles rolling around and the chaotic noise of hundreds of conversations among different groups of people drinking and socialising at various bars.

Recorded by Cities and Memory. 

A walkthrough the famous St. George's market in Belfast, capturing the chatter of locals, goods being sold and the large, warehouse-style building's air conditioning. 

Recorded by Cities and Memory. 

"My mum suddenly passed away in February. She was from West Belfast, a place I've visited more times than I can count. I leapt on the Belfast St George's market recording as soon as I heard it, I've always loved the accent. 

"Clearing her house in May I found a kalimba that she'd bought. I've included it in the piece along with other sounds from around her house. I've found the process of making this piece really comforting."  

St. George's Market, Belfast reimagined by Dermot Fitzsimons.